The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Colonel-rank officer posted at the Indian Army’s Eastern Command headquarters in Kolkata in connection with an alleged bribery and defence procurement corruption case.
The officer has been identified as Colonel Himanshu Bali of the Army Ordnance Corps (AOC), officials said, per a report by News Arena India.
According to investigators, the officer was allegedly caught while accepting a bribe of around Rs 50 lakh in exchange for facilitating defence contracts and clearing bills linked to a private supplier.
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Alleged tender manipulation under scanner
The case has drawn attention because the arrest took place within Fort William, one of the country’s most sensitive military establishments and the headquarters of the Eastern Command.
CBI officials alleged that Colonel Bali maintained regular contact with the owner of a Kanpur-based defence supply company, M/s Eastern Global Limited, as well as his father.
Per a report by News Arena India, investigators claim the officer extended undue favours to the company by influencing tender allocations, approving allegedly substandard material samples and clearing inflated or fraudulent bills.
According to the probe, meetings between the accused officer and the businessmen reportedly took place over several months. One such alleged meeting was said to have occurred in Kolkata’s Park Street area on April 22 outside official working hours. Investigators believe a major contract was awarded to the firm on April 24.
Hawala route and trap operation
The FIR states that the alleged demand for Rs 50 lakh was made on May 16.
The CBI further alleged that the payment was arranged through a hawala network operating between Delhi-NCR and Kolkata.
Acting on intelligence inputs, the agency reportedly laid a trap in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk area on Monday, where the money was allegedly being transferred through intermediaries. Following the operation, the officer was detained and later arrested in Kolkata under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Wider probe underway
Apart from Colonel Bali, the CBI has also named the Kanpur-based businessman, his son and an associate identified as Ashutosh Shukla in the case. They have been booked on charges related to criminal conspiracy and corruption.
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Officials said the arrested officer is being taken to Delhi on transit remand for further questioning.
Investigators are now examining the broader network linked to the alleged racket, including intermediaries and the procurement process through which defence tenders were allegedly influenced.
The agency is also probing how the alleged operation functioned within the high-security environment of Fort William. Further arrests have not been ruled out as investigators continue tracking financial records and communication trails connected to the case.
